Nilotinib, sold under the brand name Tasigna marketed worldwide by
Novartis, is a medication used to treat
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) which has the
Philadelphia chromosome.[4] It may be used both in initial cases of chronic phase CML as well as in accelerated and chronic phase CML that has not responded to
imatinib.[4][5] It is taken
by mouth.[5]
Nilotinib has a number of adverse effects including headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, muscle and joint pain,
rash and other skin conditions, flu-like symptoms, and reduced blood cell count. Less typical side effects are those of the cardiovascular system, such as high blood pressure, various types of
arrhythmia, and prolonged
QT interval. Nilotinib can also affect the body's
electrolyte and
glucose balance.[8] Though lung-related adverse effects are rare when compared with
imatinib and
dasatinib, there is a case report of acute respiratory failure from
diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in a people taking nilotinib.[9]
Check serum lipase periodically in order to detect pancreatitis
Total gastrectomy
Avoid pregnancy or impregnating women
Dose reduction has been recommended in people with liver problems which involves recommendation of lower starting dose and monitoring of any hepatic function abnormalities.[12]
Nilotinib has been reported as a substrate for OATP1B1 and OATP1B3. Interaction of nilotinib with OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 may alter its hepatic disposition and can lead to transporter mediated drug-drug interactions.[12] Nilotinib is an inhibitor of OATP-1B1 transporter but not for OATP-1B3.[14]
It is a substrate for
CYP3A4 and hence grapefruit juice and other
CYP3A4 inhibitors[15] will increase its action and inducers like St. John's wort[16] will decrease it. Patients report that pomegranates and starfruit may also interfere.
Structurally related to imatinib,[19] It is 10–30 fold more potent than imatinib in inhibiting Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase activity and
proliferation of Bcr-Abl expressing cells.[19][20][21][22]
Nilotinib was developed by
Novartis.[5] It was developed based on the structure of the Abl-imatinib complex to address imatinib intolerance and resistance.[23][20][21]
Society and culture
Legal status
It was approved for medical use by the
FDA in October 2007,[8]EMA in September 2009,[24]MHRA in November 2007,[25] and
TGA in January 2008.[11]
Research
Parkinson's disease
There is weak evidence that nilotinib may be beneficial with
Parkinson's disease (PD), with a small clinical trial suggesting it might halt progression and improve symptoms.[26] However, there were significant side effects including
infection,
liver function tests abnormalities,
hallucinations and
heart attack, and the benefit in PD disappeared at follow up after drug discontinuation, raising question as to whether it was truly a disease modifying therapy. Nilotinib is currently undergoing phase II studies for treatment of Parkinson's.[27] Scientists and medical professionals have advised caution with over-optimistic interpretation of its effects in Parkinson's due to the significant
media hype surrounding the small and early clinical trial.[28][29] Dystonia and cognitive impairment have also been reported as side effects.[30]
Other
Novartis announced in April 2011, that it was discontinuing a phase III trial of nilotinib as the first-line treatment of
gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) based on the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee. Interim results showed Tasigna is unlikely to demonstrate superiority compared to Novartis's Gleevec (imatinib)*, the current standard of care in this setting.[31]
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization.
hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^Komoroski BJ, Zhang S, Cai H, Hutzler JM, Frye R, Tracy TS, et al. (May 2004). "Induction and inhibition of cytochromes P450 by the St. John's wort constituent hyperforin in human hepatocyte cultures". Drug Metabolism and Disposition. 32 (5): 512–518.
doi:
10.1124/dmd.32.5.512.
PMID15100173.
^Manley PW, Drueckes P, Fendrich G, Furet P, Liebetanz J, Martiny-Baron G, et al. (March 2010). "Extended kinase profile and properties of the protein kinase inhibitor nilotinib". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics. 1804 (3): 445–453.
doi:
10.1016/j.bbapap.2009.11.008.
PMID19922818.
^
abManley PW, Cowan-Jacob SW, Mestan J (December 2005). "Advances in the structural biology, design and clinical development of Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics. 1754 (1–2): 3–13.
doi:
10.1016/j.bbapap.2005.07.040.
PMID16172030.
^Breccia M, Alimena G (February 2010). "Nilotinib: a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor for chronic myeloid leukemia". Leukemia Research. 34 (2): 129–134.
doi:
10.1016/j.leukres.2009.08.031.
PMID19783301.
^Manley PW, Stiefl N, Cowan-Jacob SW, Kaufman S, Mestan J, Wartmann M, et al. (October 2010). "Structural resemblances and comparisons of the relative pharmacological properties of imatinib and nilotinib". Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 18 (19): 6977–6986.
doi:
10.1016/j.bmc.2010.08.026.
PMID20817538.
^Robledo I, Jankovic J (September 2017). "Media hype: Patient and scientific perspectives on misleading medical news". Movement Disorders. 32 (9): 1319–1323.
doi:
10.1002/mds.26993.
PMID28370445.
S2CID30022509.